Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 4: Telling Yourself in German
• Part 2 of 4: Describing your family in German
• Part 3 of 4: Meeting People
• Part 4 of 4: Making Inquiries in German

Speaking German is easier than it might seem at first glance. When chatting with a German friend or traveling in Germany, learn key, commonly used expressions and phrases by heart. This article describes how to introduce yourself in German and make a positive impression on those around you.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Telling Yourself in German

1. 1 Remember how to tell others about your age and date of birth.
   • Ich bin_____Jahre alt - I am _____ years old
   • Ich bin am _____ 19_____ geboren - I was born on _____ 19_____
   • Mein Geburtstag ist am _____ - My birthday _____
2. 2 Report your height. Below are common phrases regarding your height. In Germany, as in Russia, the metric system is used.
   • Ich bin groß / klein - I'm tall / short
   • Ich bin ziemlich groß / klein - I'm pretty tall / short
3. 3 Tell us about your hair and eye color.
   • Ich habe braune / blaue / grüne Augen - I have brown / blue / green eyes
   • Ich habe braune / blonde / schwarze / rote Haare - I am brown-haired / blond / brunette / red-haired
4. 4 Describe how you are feeling and some of your traits. The ability to communicate something personal about yourself will allow you to establish better contact with your interlocutor.
   • Ich bin müde - I'm tired
   • Mir ist kalt - I'm cold / I'm cold
   • Mir ist warm - I feel warm
   • Ich bin froh - I'm glad (of anything)
   • Ich bin traurig - I'm sad
   • Ich bin nervös - I'm nervous
   • Ich bin geduldig - I am patient / I am a patient person
   • Ich bin ungeduldig - I'm an impatient person / I'm an impatient person
   • Ich bin ruhig - I am calm / I am a calm person
   • Ich bin unruhig - I'm worry

Part 2 of 4: Describing your family in German

1. 1 Remember how the various relatives are called in German. If you want to give your German friends and acquaintances as complete a picture of yourself as possible, tell us about your next of kin.
   • Meine Mutter - My mother
   • Mein Vater - My father
   • Mein Bruder - My brother
   • Meine Schwester - My sister
   • Mein Mann - My husband
   • Meine Frau - My wife
2. 2 Describe the physical appearance and character of your family members. To do this, you can use the words and phrases with which you previously described yourself. If you are still having a hard time learning new German phrases, use the following simple expressions:
   • Meine Mutter / Schwester / Frau ist groß / klein - My mother / sister / wife is tall / short
   • Sie hat braune / blaue / grüne Augen - She has brown / blue / green eyes
   • Mein Vater / Bruder / Mann ist groß / klein - My father / brother / husband is tall / short
   • Er hat braune / blaue / grüne Augen - He has brown / blue / green eyes
   • Meine Mutter / Schwester / Frau ist freundlich - My mother / sister / wife is welcoming "
   • Mein Vater / Bruder / Mann ist lustig - My father / brother / husband is a cheerful person

Part 3 of 4: Meeting People

1. 1 Greet people politely, even if you know them well. Remember that Germans are somewhat more formal and polite than, for example, Americans, and keep this in mind when communicating. Here are some ways to greet someone in German:
   • Guten Tag - Good afternoon (formally)
   • Guten Abend - Good evening (formally)
   • Hallo - Hello (informally)
2. 2 Introduce yourself and ask questions to your interlocutor. Follow the formalities until you get to know the person better. Remember that Germans distinguish between formal and informal communication styles.
   • Hallo, ich bin_______. Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen - Hello, my name is______. It's nice to meet you
   • Wie heißen Sie? - What is your name?
   • Wie geht es Ihnen? - How are you doing?
   • Mir geht es gut, danke - I'm fine, thank you
   • Woher kommen Sie? - Where are you from?
   • Ich komme aus_______. - I came from _______
3. 3 When leaving a group of German-speaking acquaintances, always say goodbye to them. As noted, the Germans place great emphasis on adherence to formalities, so try not to sound impolite.
   • Auf Wiedersehen - Goodbye (pretty formal)
   • Tschüß - Bye (informal enough)
   • Bis bald - See you
4. 4 Remember some polite phrases. These phrases will come in handy in a wide variety of situations.
   • Entschuldigung - excuse me
   • Ich möchte gern______ - I would like to______
   • Vielen Dank - Thanks a lot
   • Nein, danke - No thanks
   • Verzeihen Sie - Sorry / I'm sorry (pretty formal)
   • Ja, gerne - Yes with pleasure
   • Natürlich - Sure
   • Es tut mir leid - Sorry / I'm sorry

Part 4 of 4: Making Inquiries in German

1. 1 Learn to ask for directions. On the way, you often need to find out where, for example, the nearest restroom is located, or which train station will be next. Knowing these simple phrases will make your travel life much easier.
   • Wo ist die Toilette? - Where can I find a toilet / restroom?
   • Wo ist der Bahnhof? - How to get / drive to the train station?
   • Wo ist die Bank? - How to get / drive to the bank?
   • Wo ist das Krankenhaus? - How to get / drive to the hospital?
2. 2 Learn to ask for help. This is especially useful when traveling in German-speaking countries. Knowing how to ask for a check or inquire about the location of the restroom will make your trip a lot easier and more enjoyable.
   • Sprechen Sie Russisch (English)? - Do you speak Russian (English)?
   • Die Rechnung bitte - Please check
   • Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen? - Can you help me?
3. 3 Memorize phrases useful in case of emergencies. If you need urgent help, the following expressions come in handy:
   • Ich brauche dringend Hilfe - I need urgent help
   • Ich brauche einen Krankenwagen - I need urgent medical attention
   • Ich bin sehr krank - I am very sick